To refresh everyone’s memory, a nationwide constitutional law prohibited the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcohol, from 1920-1933. Seriously, what a disaster !
Savannah has the only prohibition museum in the U.S. Here are some “fun facts”: In 1850 the American Temperance Society reached its highest membership #s with over 238,000 individuals supporting the cause. As a radical member of the temperance movement, Carry Nation embarked on a decade-long era of saloon smashing with the aid of her famous hatchet. The Anti-Saloon League founded by Reverend Howard Russell in 1893, was the leading organization lobbying for prohibition. Bill McCoy was a rum smuggler, known for selling premium liquor and top brands, although he was never a drinker himself. Rum-running was profitable and it was said several ships carried over $200,000 in contraband in a single run. (That’s a lot of money back then). Juice joints also known as speakeasies, where smugglers often brought their cargo. Moonshine came about as soon as prohibition came in. XXX on a moonshine jug signified it had been run through a still at least 3x resulting in almost 100% pure alcohol. Tainted booze, more than 10,000 people died from low-quality moonshine. Flappers became a “thing” when prohibition started. This generation of women were some of the 1st to drive cars, get jobs outside their homes, and socialize with men in public. The “IT” girl – famous silent film star Clara Bow was one of the most famous flappers. The dance the Charleston was born and swept the nation, peaking in popularity in 1926. Most importantly prohibition brought forth gangs. Al Capone and his crime network brought in $100 million a year during prohibition, where the average worker brought in $1,000 a year. There was a 78% increase in the homicide rate in large cities across the country compared to the pre-prohibition era. Feb 14th 1929, it is believed that Scarface himself ordered the St. Valentine’s Day massacre where 7 of his rivals were brutally slaughtered in Chicago. The Model T was created by Henry Fork and due to Ford’s efficient assembly line process, 15 million Model T’s were built and were the first cars affordable to the masses. Given the Model T was incorporated into many 1920 movies and songs, it became an instant classic. (It was also the car of choice for gangsters). The rise of the Speakeasies, also known as Blind Pigs, were secret establishments where alcohol was illegally served to the masses. To enter these hidden saloons, you needed to whisper a code through a small opening in the door. The age of Jazz was ushered in through these underground saloons. And most importantly mixology was born as bartenders were forced to get creative with this cocktails in order to mask the taste of poor quality liquor.
OK so there were some GOOD things that came out of all of this: Jazz, The Charleston, the Model T, the ability for women to socialize with men in public, NASCAR, and of course the cocktails. Other than that, again what were they thinking!
Here are some pics of the Museum. If you ever get a chance, this is a must do for its information and entertainment. There is a speakeasy in the museum of which we did partake in a cocktail of the era.
I have a lot of pics of the museum but this should give you a taste of what it has to offer. Loved it!
Yep – a French 75 for sure – how well you know me! Interesting to see that instead of going ‘Dry January’, you just chose to spend a day researching reasons NOT to stop drinking, at a museum dedicated to the evils of Prohibition. It’s like you went ‘Dry January-adjacent’. Clever girl.